Vending and weighing machine



June 15, W37. N MAY 2,83,958

VENDING AND WEIGHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fm /-/a .2 F2

' v "2/ fia f I INVENTOR.

git 76W 1. MAX BY ATTORNEY.

June 115, 1937. N E AY 2,083,958

I VENDING AND WEIGHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1934 Sheets-Sheet 2 H6. 6. f/a d INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

June 15, 1937. 5 M Y 2,083,958

VENDING AND WEIGHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 20, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 JIII, 6

INVENTOR. u m/v [T Mm.

ATTORNEY.

Patented June 15, 1937 UNlTED STATES PATENT GFFl-QE VENDING AND lVEIGHING MACHINE tion of Indiana Application December 20, 1934, Serial No. 758,425

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a vending and weighing machine, and particularly to the combination of a vending machine with a weighing scale having a substantially horizontal indicator face.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a device of this character with a substantially horizontal member forming a scale head and a support for a vending machine, so arranged as to clearly expose the horizontal indicator face of the scale and at the same time position the vending machine in readily accessible position to a person using the scale.

A further object is to provide a device of this character wherein the vending machine is supported in laterally ofi-set relation to the scale head and thereabove, whereby a suitably directed coin deposited in the vending machine may pass by gravity into the scale.

A further object is to provide a device of this character with a tamper-proof coin passage having a part thereof extending exteriorly of the casings of the vending machine and scale.

A further object is to provide a device of this character having a vending machine positioned above and in laterally off-set relation to a scale,

with means for positively directing a coin from the vending machine to the coin-operated mechanism of the scale.

The invention further relates to certain combinations and arrangements of parts which will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the device.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of the device in side elevation with part of the vending machine casing broken away to illustrate a portion of the coin operated mechanism.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan View of the combined scale head and vending machine support.

Figure 4. is a perspective View of the coin chute extending between the vending machine and scale.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the device taken on line 5-45 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary rear view of the scale with the casing thereof open in part to illustrate a portion of the coin operated mechanism.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the coin passage of the scale.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in side elevation similar to Figure 2 and illustrating the use of a different type of vending machine in the device.

Figure 9 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the vending machine illustrated in Figure 8, taken on line 9-9 of Figure 10.

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view of the vending machine taken on line Ill-ill of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a lever, including a coin passage, of the vending machine illustrated in Figure 9.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a coin-operated member of the vending machine illustrated in Figure 9.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 1 to '7 thereof, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, the numeral 20 designates a conventional coin-operated weighing scale having avertical housing 2! encasing the coin-operated mechanism thereof and having a substantially horizontally disposed indicating face at the top of said housing 2i and at a height approximately equal to average adult waist height and below average adult eye level. The numeral 22 designates any conventional coinoperated vending machine, such as a cigarette or candy vending machine, of the type in which the coin holder 23 of the coin receiving device is operable, when containing the coin, to operate the mechanism thereof and to deposit all coins at a predetermined point in the vending machine after enabling the coin holder 23 to actuate the dispensing means (not shown) of the vending machine. t

On the upper end of the scale housing 2! is securely mounted a member 25, best illustrated in Figure 3, which forms the head of the scale and is provided with a marginal depending flange 25 fitting around the sides of the casing 2 I. An opening 2! is formed in member 25 centrally of the portion defined by flanges 26, and. through this opening is exposed the indicia of the scale, the opening preferably being provided with a transparent closure. The rear portion 28 of member 25 is enlarged and provided with marginal and other flanges 29 at its under side to reinforce the same. In this portion 28 of member 25 is provided an opening 39 adjacent one corner of the marginal flange 25, and on the upper side of said portion 28 in spaced relation to opening 39 and positioned oppositely of marginal flange 26 is an upwardly extending lug St. The marginal flange 25 is partially cut-away at 32 at the corner thereof adjacent opening 3i), and a pair of spaced vertical flanges 33 project from the bottom of member 25 and extend from the opposite all) sides of opening 36 to opposite sides of cut'away 32 of flange 26. Vertically downwardly extending flanges 34 are also carried by member 25 and within the outline of marginal flange 26 adjacent cut-away 32 thereof, for purposes to be hereinafter set forth.

The housing of the vending machine 22 is suitably and securely mounted on portion 28 of member 25, and is provided with an opening 35 communicating with opening 30 of member 25 and having lug 3i projecting therethrough. The registering openings 36 and are positioned below the coin receiving member of the vending machine at the point at which the coin holder 23 deposits each coin disposed therein. Through these registering openings 35 and 35 extends a coin chute 36, best illustrated in Figure 4, which is in the form of an inclined trough. At the rear side of its upper end this coin chute 36 is provided with a forked projection 3'! which rests firmly upon the upper end of lug 31 to which it is secured by a suitable screw 38 passed between the forks 3i and into said lug. At its opposite sides and intermediate its ends the chute 36 is provided with lugs 39 which bear upon the base of the housing of the vending machine on opposite sides of the opening 35 therein. Chute 36 is thus positively positioned and locked relative to the vending machine by screw 38, lugs 39 and the walls of the registering. openings 36 and 35 through which it extends. At its lower end the chute 36 is provided with spaced vertical flanges 56 at opposite sides thereof and a flange connecting the lower ends of flanges 40, which flanges closely fit against the edges of cut-away 32 of marginal flange 26 of member 25 and are transversely concave at their outer faces to solidly seat themselves on the edges of said cut-away. The chute 36 fits between flanges 33 to additionally serve to prevent displacement thereof from its operative position either accidentally or intentionally, and to prevent access thereto, whereby the chute is always operative to convey the coin from the vending machine to the scale through a path of movement extending exteriorly of the vending machine and scale housings and yet cannot be pried into by prowlers and pilferers. To one side of the longitudinal center of chute 36 at the point thereof where the coin drops from the coin holder 23, the chute is provided with an upwardly and longitudinally extending ear 4| which serves to turn the coin on edge to permit it to roll down the inclined chute 36 to the scale housing.

A suitable coin passage 42, illustrated in Figures 5 to 7, is mounted in the upper end of scale housing 2|, said passage 42 being of substantially U-section and positioned at its upper end by guide flanges 34 of member 25 in proper relation to receive and direct the coins entering the scale housing 2! from chute 36. For purposes of facilitating assembly, the passage 42 is preferably formed of two or more sections provided with registering ears 43 by means of which the same are operatively secured together. The coin-operated scale tripping mechanism, indicated generally by numeral 44, preferably includes a pivoted rod 45 which mounts at one of its ends a scoop-shaped member 45 extending into passage 42 to normally close the same to uninterrupted passage of a coin therethrough. At its other end rod 45 mounts a counterweight 4T normally balancing said rod in horizontal position.

It will thus be seen that the device provides an operative combination device in which the scale has a readily visible and readable substantially horizontal indicating face, and the vending machine is supported in conveniently disposed, laterally spaced relation to the scale head, and in which is provided a tamper-proof coin passage between the vending machine and the scale whereby the same coin which permits operation of the vending machine is directed in its gravity energized movement to the scale and through a coin passage in said scale to strike member 46 and thereby pivot rod 45 to permit operation of the scale, the pivoting action of the rod permitting the coin to slide off of the outer end of member 45.

Referring now to Figures 8 to 12 of the drawings the same illustrate the same general device as heretofore described with the exception that the vending machine 56 mounted on portion 28 of member 25 is of a construction such that the coin itself operates the vending machine, so that it normally discharges the coins employed to operate it haphazardly therein, rather than at a predetermined point therein. For such a device the coin directing arrangement of this device must include means for directing the coin to chute 36. The structure of the vending machine will be first generally described.

The machine 56 includes a hopper 5| which is provided centrally of the bottom thereof with a rotatable member 52 mounted on a vertical shaft 53 and having a plurality of radially extending partitions 54 by which a measured amount of the candy, or the like, to be vended is delivered to a suitable discharge passage which includes opening 55 in a frame member 56 disposed below rotatable member 52 and a projecting chute 51 in the housing of the vending machine. Rotatably mounted on shaft 53 below member 52 is a disc 58 whose peripheral edges bear on frame 56 adjacent a central depressed portion 59 of said frame; Disc 58 carries a plurality of upwardly directed lugs which fit into suitable recesses provided in the bottom face of member 52, whereby disc 53 and member 52 rotate together. At its under side the disc 58 carries a plurality of spaced depending lugs 6! extending into depressed portion 56 of frame 56. A portion of frame 56 at the depression 59 thereof is cut away to provide a retaining edge 62 and a shoulder-defining edge 63 extending substantially radially of the frame, all for purposes to be hereinafter set forth. Pivoted to the under side of frame 56 in spaced relation to depression 59 thereof is a latch 64, best illustrated in Figure 12, which is provided near its pivoted end with a flange 65 to which one end of a spring 66 is attached, said spring normally urging said latch in the direction of the center of frame 56. At its free end the latch 64 is provided with a pair of spaced lateral projections 61 between which the latch normally engages the adjacent lug 6| of disc 58 to hold said disc against rotation. The outer end of the latch is pointed and is also bevelled or tapered to an edge at the side thereof opposite said projections. At a point substantially intermediate projections 61 the latch 64 is provided with a projection 68 at its under side which tapers toward the free end of the latch to provide an outer edge 69, the taper being shorter on the side of lug 68 adjacent projections 6'! whereby said lug 68 is provided with a defined edge 16 extending diagonally of latch 64.

A coin receiving member H is suitably mounted in the housing of the vending machine with the coin carrying plate 12 thereof projecting outwardly of said housing. The coin receiving member includes a laterally curved guide portion 13 disposed adjacent the forward end of the cutaway of frame 58, said guide portion including spaced vertical guide flanges 14 which project below frame 56, the latter being provided with an upwardly off-set portion 75 above said guide flanges 14 and a cut-out '16 in the. marginal flange thereof which permit a coin to roll on edge down guide portion 73 between guide flanges 74 to a position beneath off-set 75 of frame 56. Pivoted to the depressed portion 59 of frame 56 at a point 11 substantially diametrically opposite from the off-set of said frame 56 is a curved lever 78, best illustrated in Figure 11. The lever 78 is provided with an enlarged head 19 at its free end which has a transverse slot 80 extending therethrough to provide a web 8! having a curved upper face, said slot 80 normally registering with the coin guide whereby a suitable coin 82 rolls therein to the full line position illustrated in Figure 9 supported on edge on web 8| of lever '18 and bearing against retaining edge 62 of frame 56 which prevents further passage of the coin. A suitable plunger 83 bears at its inner end upon head 19 of lever 18 and terminates outwardly of the vending machine housing at its other end.

The operation of this type of machine is as follows: Upon insertion of a coin 82 in coin carrying plate 12 of coin receiving member H, and subsequent operation of said plate 12, the coin is released within the vending machine and rolls to the full line position illustrated in Figure 9 bearing against retaining edge 62 of frame 56. Then plunger 83 is longitudinally inwardly shifted to pivot lever '18 against the action of spring 84 which holds the same in normal coinreceiving position. The rearward pivoting of lever 18 carries with it the coin 82 which engages the adjacent lug 6| of disc 58 to rotate said disc and consequently the member 52. At the same time the coin engages the bevelled under surface of lug E8 of latch 64 to outwardly pivot the same against the action of spring 65, thereby withdrawing projections 6! of said latch from the rotary path of movement of lug 6|. As the plunger 83 approaches the end of its inward movement, the coin 82 passes the inner end of retaining edge 62 of the frame 55 defined by shoulder forming edge 53 thereof, and the coin is therefore released, whereby it rolls off of web 8| of lever 18 and falls to the bottom of the housing of the vending machine in an entirely haphazard and uncontrolled movement.

Inasmuch as it is one of the objects of this invention to have the coin pass from the vending machine to the scale 29 to trip the mechanism 44 thereof after it has actuated the vending machine mechanism, by passing through opening 35 of the vending machine housing and coin chute 30 into housing 2! of the scale, some means for directing the coin 82 after it is released from lever 18 must be provided in this type of vending machine. This means is provided herein as best illustrated in Figures 9 and 11, and comprises a coin retaining member in the form of an open ended narrow chute 85. The chute is cut-away at one upper corner thereof to provide an upwardly directed extension 86 at one side thereof, whereby the cut-away portion fits under head 19 of lever 18 bywhich it is carried in vertically depending relation in alignment with coin slot 80 of said lever head and the extension 86 of the chute terminates at a point in substantially the same horizontal plane as the upper surface of sion 86 of said chute 85. The coin is heldon edge;

by theclose spacing of the parallel side walls of chute-85, whereby it is retained in chute 85, and as the lever 18 returns to normal position actuated by spring 84, the coin is slid over-the bottom of the vending machine casing to the opening 35 therein through which it falls into the coin chute 30 for passage to the scale as heretofore described. l

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A member adapted to form a combined scale head and vending machine support, depending flanges carried by said member adjacent one side thereof to fit around said scale and having an opening therein, said member having an opening formed therein substantially centrally of the portion thereof outlined by said flanges and another opening spaced from said flanges, and a coin chute communicating with said last named opening and with said flange opening adapted to direct a coin from the vending machine to the scale.

2. A member adapted to form a combined scale head and vending machine support, depending flanges carried by said member to fit around said scale and having an opening therein, said member having an opening formed therein substantially centrally of the portion thereof defined by said flanges and another opening spaced from said first opening, and a coin chute extending through said last named opening and secured to the upper side of said member, said coin chute communicating with said flange opening.

3. A member adapted to form a combined scale head and vending machine support, depending flanges carried by said member to fit around said scale and having an opening therein, said member having an opening therein substantially centrally of the portion thereof defined by said flanges and another opening spaced from said first opening, and a coin chute extending through said last named opening and secured to the upper side of said member at one of its ends, the other end of said coin chute having concave lips adapted to seat against the edges of said flange opening.

4. A member adapted to form a combined scale head and vending machine support, depending flanges carried by said member to fit around said scale and having an opening therein, said member having an opening therein substantially centrally of the portion thereof defined by said flanges and another opening spaced from said first opening, spaced dependingflanges carried by said member and each extending from one side of said last named opening to one side of said flange opening, and a coin chute communicating with last named opening and said flange opening and positioned between said spaced flanges.

5. In a casing for a coin operated device, a housing, a member forming part of said housing and projecting laterally from the upper end thereof, the top of said housing having a sight opening therein, said member having a passage therethrough spaced from said sight opening, a second housing mounted on said member in laterally offset relation to said sight opening and first housing and having a discharge passage registering with said first passage, and a coin chute secured to said member and extending through said registering passages and into communication with said first housing, part of said coin chute bearing against said second housing to lock said second housing on said member.

6. In a casing for a coin operated device, a hollow vertical standard, a substantially horizontal member secured to and forming a top for said standard, said member having a sight opening in the top forming portion thereof and having a portion projecting laterally of said standard, said member having a coin passage spaced from said sight opening, a housing mounted on the projecting portion of said member and having a passage registering with said first passagaand a coin said top and connecting said casings, said coinchute being secured to said top in interengaging relation to said second casing to interlock said second casing and top.

NEWTON E. MAY. 

